Update on Covid-19 testing for our staff and patients

NHS England has released new guidance outlining a number of changes in Covid-19 testing practices for staff as well as patients.

Currently, we are advising all staff to continue to order free lateral flow device (LFD) tests using the national ordering system. These should continue to be undertaken twice a week, as well as when Covid-19 symptoms are displayed.

Results, however, should now be reported via the national reporting system here.

Please continue to adhere to current testing practice, with the exception of using the national LFD reporting system instead of our own.

We are reviewing the NHS England guidance for patient testing and are planning to implement changes at UHD, which we will share once the changes have been agreed. Any changes made to our current testing practice will continue to allow us to keep our patients and staff safe while in our hospitals.

LFD ordering link in full: https://www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests

LFD reporting link in full: https://www.gov.uk/report-covid19-result.

#YouMatter - Help us keep improving with the People Pulse survey

By sharing your views, you'll ensure your voice is heard across our organisation and we can act and respond on your concerns and help improve the support that we provide to you.

Click now or scan the QR code to tell us how you feel. When you access the survey, select University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust as your organisation.

If you have any questions please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Executive team update

Last week we said goodbye to our chief executive Debbie Fleming and chairman David Moss. Professor Paula Shobbrook will now be acting chief executive officer and Philip Green will be acting chairman. Our new chief executive Siobhan Harrington will be joining us on 1 June 2022.

Talk with Unison

Unison is hosting recruitment and information stalls across the trust – starting at Poole today in the Dome, and outside the restaurant and by the lake at RBH on 14 April from 10am-2pm.

RBH: stoma care reduced service

The stoma care service will be closed this Thursday (7 April) for a team training day. The service will also not be running over Easter bank holiday weekend (15-18 April). Please ensure patients are referred before 14 April.

We need your help to update our clinic letter eForms

The trust is looking at improving the process of how outpatient clinic letters are created and sent to GPs and patients.

Currently the majority of the clinic letters are produced by staff on the eCaMIS module of clinical support system. However, clinicians are increasingly using a variety of electronic and eForms to create clinic letters. The old system also makes it difficult to send letters to GPs electronically for the same reasons. We therefore want to develop electronic clinic templates in EPR which can capture and send out clinic letters.

To ensure we get the design right, share your feedback here.

Celebrating Karen at the Women of the Year luncheon

Senior matron of our children's unit, Karen Fernley was nominated to attend the Women of the Year luncheon, where this year women of the NHS were honoured. The prestigious Women of Achievement award celebrates women who have shown extraordinary courage in extraordinary circumstances, as well as making a contribution to society.

Karen said: "It's really humbling to have been nominated and then to be lucky enough to have been selected to attend. I am really excited to hear of the other areas of excellence that will be celebrated. As individuals we strive to provide excellence. I believe we achieve this but more than that - as a collective female healthcare workforce we are simply outstanding."

The health and safety audit tool is open for completion

It's time to complete your department's submission for the annual HASAT.

The HASAT reporting year runs from April to March, and data is collected in quarter one from April to June each year. Department and service managers can access the form and further information here.

To see the trust's performance last year please see the HASAT intranet pages. For further support please contact your local health and safety advisor.

Library service updates

The library at Poole will reopen from today (5 April). Due to low staffing, the sites may not be staffed at all the time, however you can still access the service online or borrow books.

You can still book a room, register for NHS OpenAthens, recommend a book, request an evidence search, or request articles or training all online.

If you have any questions contact the library at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or ext. 4270 or 2101.

Meet Claire, our new lead cancer nurse

Meet Claire Smith, our new lead cancer nurse. Her role is to provide professional nurse leadership for specialist cancer nursing in the trust. She will be responsible for delivering the nursing strategic objectives and will strive to champion cancer nursing care, including the development of nursing roles in cancer care delivery, the development of nurse-led diagnostic and treatment pathways for cancer, and workforce development across the cancer alliance. She will also be an advocate for our patients, leading patient and public engagement forums and ensuring that patient experience and feedback remains central to our care.

Claire said: "It is an exciting time to join the trust. The merger provides huge opportunities and benefits to the way we deliver patient care in the future and will lead to better outcomes, improved quality and more efficient service delivery."

If you could like to get in contact with Claire for a chat please contact her on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Huge congratulations to Sam Murray

Sam has been nominated and shortlisted for a national award the APTUK secondary care pharmacy technician of the year award. An accolade to the incredible dedication and commitment Sam shows to the pharmacy service and wider trust. Well done Sam! Find out more here.

Fundamentals of innovation adoption training

Join the Dorset Innovation Hub team from 10am-4pm on 26 May to further understand the challenges of innovation adoption, develop skills and build knowledge to be better equipped to successfully adopt innovations into practice.

During the session we will:

• learn about the key steps when taking forwards an innovation project
• explore the definition of innovation and the challenges of innovation adoption
• develop skills in using supportive frameworks and tools

Click here to book a place or contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for further.

Job of the week – healthcare support worker mentors

We are looking for experienced healthcare and clinical based support workers to join the education team providing support to new HCSWs joining the trust. This exciting new post will involve supporting new staff in the clinical setting, support the care certificate and providing pastoral care. This will suit anyone who is passionate about ensuring new staff are welcomed to the trust and those who want to help support staff at the start of their healthcare journey.

For further details please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or apply via vacancies on the intranet. The advert closes on 14 April.

Join the South West NHS Military Challenge

243 (Wessex) Field Hospital are pleased to announce the South West NHS Military Challenge will be taking place in Salisbury on the weekend of 16-18 September. 20 teams of eight will compete over two days for the coveted SW NHS Challenge Trophy.

We want to enter a team from all departments of the trust. If you would like to represent UHD and have a fun filled exciting weekend, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to register your interest.